Open the start menu right next the program?

Question

I've been researching how to open the Start Menu programmatically, but the problem is that I'd like it to open it right next to the application I'm creating.

I'm making a toolbar at the top of the screen with a button to open the start menu, but I'd like the Start Menu to open right underneath the button rather than near the taskbar. I'm using the code supplied in the answer to this question, which only sends the required keypress (LWin) to open the Start Menu.

Is this possible in C#? If so, how can I do it?

The fact that Windows 8 no longer has a start menu makes this kinda pointless. — Daniel Hilgarth, Mar 05 '13 at 11:34
btw, long time ago there was a virus for win98 that made "Start" button to run away from mouse cursor :) — Sergio, Mar 05 '13 at 11:34
@Sergio In all honesty, I've only tried Googling and didn't really know what to search for. — Abluescarab, Mar 05 '13 at 11:35
@DanielHilgarth This program is supporting older versions of Windows. — Abluescarab, Mar 05 '13 at 11:36
well your going to need its window handle to do anything start there — Dreamwalker, Mar 05 '13 at 11:36
From what i remember "start" button itself is a window, so you can try to get it's handle and change coords — Sergio, Mar 05 '13 at 11:37
An extra bit of help use http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-gb/library/windows/desktop/ms633499%28v=vs.85%29.aspx and Spy++ to get the info needed. — Dreamwalker, Mar 05 '13 at 11:39

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

2

EDIT: Apparently, this only works on English versions of Windows, due to "Start menu" being different in each translation. This will still work, though (as long as Windows is installed in English).

I got it! This works, though I don't know how pretty it is:

public partial class Form1 : Form {
    private void button1_Click(object sender, EventArgs e) {
        int ShowCmd = 5;

        MoveWindow(FindWindow("DV2ControlHost", "Start menu"), X_POS, Y_POS, WIDTH_HERE, HEIGHT_HERE, false);
        ShowWindow(FindWindow("DV2ControlHost", "Start menu"), ShowCmd);
    }

    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    public static extern IntPtr FindWindow(string lpClassName, string lpWindowName);
    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    public static extern bool ShowWindow(IntPtr hWnd, int nCmdShow);
    [DllImport("user32.dll", SetLastError = true)]
    public static extern bool MoveWindow(IntPtr hWnd, int x, int y, int nWidth, int nHeight, bool bRepaint);
}

It's a mix of this question here on SO and this MSDN article modified for C#. Again, I'm not sure how good the code is, but it gets the job done.

edited May 23 '17 at 10:34

Community

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answered Mar 05 '13 at 12:33

Abluescarab

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Not good: "Start menu" won't match on other translation of Windows – Onkelborg Mar 05 '13 at 12:38
@Onkelborg I'm assuming that I have to reference the handle directly, then? Will that stay the same between translations? – Abluescarab Mar 05 '13 at 12:39
I can't guarantee anything, but I can guarantee that the code above will fail. Rule of thumb: strings that are displayed to the user are subject to translation, but strings that aren't won't be touched, ex. a class name. DV2ControlHost will probably not be changed due to translation, but "Start menu" will. You'll need to find other unique identifications apart from visible strings. – Onkelborg Mar 05 '13 at 12:46
@Onkelborg This is almost proving to be more trouble than it's worth... though I'm determined to find some way to do this. – Abluescarab Mar 05 '13 at 12:48
Well, I don't know who your users are, but if the use something else then english Windows then you have to find some other way, or just skip the feature. – Onkelborg Mar 05 '13 at 12:58
@Onkelborg I don't generally translate my programs, but the audience is basically anyone that wants the program, meaning that I'd like to support anyone. I could just do a folder that displays in a dropdown. – Abluescarab Mar 05 '13 at 13:03
It's irrelevant if you translate your program, it's the translation of Windows that's relevant. That's out of your control, but it will be considered a bug among your users if your program doesn't work just because they aren't using english Windows. – Onkelborg Mar 05 '13 at 21:26

Open the start menu right next the program?

1 Answers1